Leveling the Playing Field

Clarence "Bucky" McGill returned home this weekend to promote and market his book "Leveling the Playing Field: The Story of the Syracuse 8".  McGill,who is from Binghamton, played football at Syracuse University.  Along with David Marc he writes about an important moment in Syracuse sports history.  McGill and eight teammates boycotted spring 1970  football practice to protest racial inequality in the football program.

The players made four demands which included: access to the same academic tutoring made available to their white teammates; better medical care, starting assignments based on merit and not on race; an effort made to integrate the football coaching staff which had been all white since 1898.

McGill made a Sunday afternoon appearance and book signing at Barnes & Noble in Vestal and another at Monday night's Greater Binghamton Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.  His book remains available at a number of locations including Barnes & Noble in Vestal.